[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 75 (Wednesday, May 7, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E850]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      CONGRATULATING COASTAL BEND COLLEGE ON ITS 40TH ANNIVERSARY

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                          HON. RUBEN HINOJOSA

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Wednesday, May 7, 2008

  Mr. HINOJOSA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Coastal 
Bend College, in Beeville, Texas on its 40th Anniversary. Bee County 
Junior College District was created by election on November 2, 1965. 
The election resulted from several years of work to establish a 
community college for Bee County. Support was shown by residents in an 
overwhelming five-to-one majority for the creation of the district. The 
desire for a community college was again demonstrated on December 7, 
1965, when district citizens approved a tax to support BCC, and bond 
issues to build the college. Bee County College opened in September 
1967 with 790 students, 24 full-time instructors and 11 part-time 
teachers. Its first class graduated in May of 1968.
  In 1998 Bee County College changed its name to Coastal Bend College 
to reflect its expanding role in the region. Today, the Coastal Bend 
College service area includes Karnes, McMullen, Live Oak, Bee, Duval, 
Jim Wells and Brooks Counties, and parts of Atascosa and Kleberg 
Counties with campuses in Alice, Beeville, Kingsville and Pleasanton. 
Enrollment in academic, workforce education and continuing education 
classes during the spring of 2006 was 3,534. More than 100,000 students 
have passed through at least one of the four campuses over the past 40 
years.
  Coastal Bend College's current president, Dr. Thomas B. Baynum, came 
to the college in 2007. Under his leadership, the Texas Coordinating 
Board recently approved the opening of a full nursing program at 
Coastal Bend College. This new nursing program will help the school 
provide training that will not only offer graduates good paying jobs, 
but will also help alleviate the severe nursing shortage which this 
rural region faces as well as our State of Texas.
  As a Hispanic Serving Institution, Coastal Bend College plays a 
critical role in graduating Hispanic students who will make up a large 
portion of our future workforce. The Higher Education Reauthorization 
Act, which is currently being negotiated in Congress, will help 
colleges like Coastal Bend increase their recruitment of minority 
students.
  This weekend, Coastal Bend College will be celebrating this important 
40th anniversary with a variety of events, including musical 
performances, art exhibits and most importantly, the graduation of 
students in its 40th graduating class. I want to again congratulate 
Coastal Bend College for reaching this important milestone and wish 
every graduating student success in their future endeavors.

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